Pope Francis: Even For The Faithful, This Is Embarrassing

I don’t relish this, Clashmates, but it’s my duty to bring you the truth when I see it. Count this as Part Two of what looks to be a running anti-Pope Francis report. See Part One here.

I once heard Dennis Prager say (or quote someone), “You aren’t religious if you aren’t at least a little embarrassed by your religion.” If that be the case, my Christian brothers and sisters, this news ought to make us all really, really religious while the “Mortification” level goes weapons-grade. This should also make leftist non-believers unusually giddy. You conservative secularists, stay with me.

Pro-abortion extremist Lilianne Ploumen, the former minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation in the Netherlands, was honored by Pope Francis with entry into the Order of St. Gregory the Great, according to the Lepanto Institute, Dutch radio BNR, and the Order’s website.

The award was presented at the Vatican in June 2017, when Ploumen took part in an official state visit with the king and queen of the Netherlands. News about the award, however, was aired on Dutch radio BNR on December 17 and the first U.S. news story about the honor was published by the Lepanto Institute on Jan. 12, 2018.

The honor is given for service to the Holy See and the Catholic Church and for a person’s excellent work in their communities or countries. The motto of the Order is Pro Deo et Principe, which means “For God and Ruler.”

Some of the members of the Order include Otto von Hapsburg, Alice von Hildebrand, G.K. Chesterton, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and Bob Hope.

Ploumen is a strong supporter of contraception, abortion, and the LGBT agenda, which means she supports policies and moral views in direct conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Transcript of an interview with BNR:

BNR: And there is another prize, from the Pope …
Lilianne Ploumen: Yes, I won another prize. I received a high award from the Pope.
BNR: For what you did for abortions?

Ploumen: Well, it doesn’t say that, but it is in itself interesting that it says it is for service/merits for society.

BNR: Well, that would be applicable to a lot of other people.

Ploumen: Yes, for sure, but the Vatican probably knows that I started “SheDecides” and they gave me this prize – very special.
…
Ploumen: Yes, that, and also, the last couple of years I invested a lot of time in establishing contacts with the Vatican.

BNR: Lobbying?

Ploumen: Yes, Lobbying. Especially since the Vatican, mainly with the previous popes, were very rigid when it comes to women’s rights. And that is not going to change in the short term, but perhaps there are some areas in which we can work together, and that is what I tried.

Back in May 2015, Minister Ploumen met with Pope Francis to discuss climate change. After the meeting, she said, “It’s fantastic that Pope Francis is to make a statement on climate change. We face huge challenges that will require efforts from all of us, including religious leaders. With their influence and authority they can have a positive impact on the debate.”

That Pope Francis is considered a good man on a personal level should be of increasingly less value to us all, to the point of irrelevance. How can you lead a group of one or more gathered in His name, let alone all Christians around the world, and give even the most subtle nod at someone who advocates for murdering unborn children? Her organization, SheDecides (nice name), raised over $300 million last year. I can now see Planned Parenthood’s corporate blue turning to envy green.

Let’s strike any record – official or otherwise — that says a pope or any other religious position of authority is infallible. This man is not a leader of any kind, and has separated from God and the teachings of Christ.

You who are non-religious but conservative or right leaning, you don’t need to be religious to understand the disappointment many of us have with Pope Francis. This is no different than if Donald Trump rolled around the country touting the benefits of welfare immigration. Would you not see the same back-handed slap?

Mrs. Cummings and I have a monsignor in our lives who is dear to us. Over the years we have witnessed what grace and love he has brought to thousands of people. We should cling to good priests and pastors like this. For now, the local team can be our best option.

In the meantime, let’s pray for a new pope, and that he gets his head out of his ass.

Michael A. Cummings has a Bachelors in Business Management from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, and a Masters in Rhetoric & Composition from Northern Arizona University. He has worked as a department store Loss Prevention Officer, bank auditor, textbook store manager, Chinese food delivery man, and technology salesman. Cummings wrote position pieces for the 2010 Trevor Drown for US Senate (AR) and 2012 Joe Coors for Congress (CO) campaigns.

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